Sing A-ho

Virgin Mary had one Son

Tune: [Virgin Mary had one Son]
Published in 3 hymnals

Representative Text

Refrain:
Sing a-ho that I had the wings of a dove,
Sing a-ho that I had the wings of a dove,
Sing a-ho that I had the wings of a dove;
I'd fly away and be at rest.

1 Virgin Mary had one Son,
I'd fly away and be at rest,
The Jews and Romans had him hung.
I'd fly away and be at rest. [Refrain]

2 Zion's daughters wept and mourned,
I'd fly away and be at rest,
When their dying Saviour groaned,
I'd fly away and be at rest. [Refrain]

3 Sinner-man, see what a shame,
I'd fly away and be at rest,
To trample down your Saviour's name.
I'd fly away and be at rest. [Refrain]

Source: National Jubilee Melodies #27

Text Information

First Line: Virgin Mary had one Son
Title: Sing A-ho
Source: Spiritual
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Sing a-ho that I had the wings of a dove
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

When the preacher has worked his auditors up to a high degree of excitement, he will often break off and extemporize some song. With his text as its basis, in which the audience joins, and then at the end it will go on "exhorting" again. This song, which is one of the most beautiful of our collection, was composed in this way in Robertson County Tennesse.. It seemed a first crude and unavailable but as it was sung over and over again gradually reached its present musical form.

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Text

Folk Songs of the American Negro (No. 1) #33

TextPage Scan

National Jubilee Melodies #27

Plantation Melodies and Spiritual Songs. 3d ed. #d131

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